Home Repairs and Improvements

News about Home Repairs and Improvements, including commentary and archival articles published in The New York Times.

Chronology of Coverage

Jan. 1, 2015

Updating a kitchen requires extensive planning and patience, as rushing remodel process can lead to unsightly errors and waste. MORE

Dec. 4, 2014

Market Ready Q&A column on whether to paint walls of house white before trying to sell it. MORE

Nov. 6, 2014

Market Ready Q&A on whether to repair water-damaged kitchen ceiling before selling a home. MORE

Oct. 16, 2014

Bob Tedeschi The Pragmatist column gives tips for remodeling your own bathroom. MORE

Aug. 14, 2014

Bob Tedeschi The Pragmatist column; creating an outdoor shower on a $1,500 budget makes no small amount of work for a homeowner, but project is certainly possible, especially with some do-it-yourself tips from plumbing and carpentry professionals; chart lists some essential equipment for DIY homeowner. MORE

Aug. 9, 2014

Alina Tugend Shortcuts column; market for vintage toilet parts is more robust than many people think, and several online companies are cashing in on customers who wish to replace parts for older model toilets. MORE

Jul. 17, 2014

Jul. 10, 2014

Homeowners who attempt to build their own patio should budget enough time and be prepared for backbreaking labor; roundup of tools for the job noted. MORE

Jun. 12, 2014

Bob Tedeschi The Pragmatist column says looking for problems around house can be beneficial, as preventative home maintenance can save money in long term; asks experts for tips on what to look for, what tools to use for search, and what to do when problems are discovered. MORE

May. 22, 2014

Organization systems can help conquer closet clutter, with complete overhaul trumping small changes that seem to be helpful. MORE

Nov. 14, 2013

Refinishing wood floors requires heavy equipment and high tolerance for pain and imperfection; experts weigh in on how to make job go more smoothly. MORE

Sep. 5, 2013

Experts discuss low-cost, high-impact approaches to home security, including locks, motion-sensitive lights and webcams. MORE

Jun. 27, 2013

Q&A with McKendree Key, 34-year-old New York artist who has been bartering stays in outbuilding behind her 1899 brick row house in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brookly, in exchange for help with main house; Key discusses details of arrangement, which she calls the Den Transaction. MORE

Apr. 14, 2013

Growing number of neighbors in New York City are entering into complex legal agreements before one commences major construction or renovation; agreements help maintain delicate relations that could easily be disrupted by noise, vibration and potential damages. MORE

Mar. 21, 2013

Scott Omelianuk, editor of This Old House, home improvement magazine associated with popular PBS show, has been working on his 19th-century brownstone in Hoboken, NJ, for fourteen years; repairs remain far from complete, due in part to Omelianuk's perfectionist nature. MORE

Feb. 3, 2013

Lisa Provost Mortgages column; Report from Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies predicts accelerating, double-digit growth in home improvement spending through at least the third quarter of 2013; graph of mortgage rates in the New York region. MORE

Nov. 29, 2012

Kit Eaton App Smart column highlights do-it-yourself home repair apps; points out apps like Yelp and RedBeacon can help people find local contractors, and others help the DIY crowd tackle projects big or small. MORE

Oct. 18, 2012

Steven Kurutz consults with three experts, each at a different price level, to create a plan to update small kitchen in his apartment in a Brooklyn Heights brownstone. MORE

Jul. 26, 2012

Ellen Rakieten, creator of A&E television series Hideous Houses, which makes over houses in desperate need of repairs, describes how the show uses tact to deal with homeowners. MORE

Jul. 22, 2012

Louis Uchitelle essay cites evidence that American craftsmanship is in troubling decline; argues that the waning of manufacturing in the economy has resulted in a dilution of hands-on skills and the public regard they once enjoyed, threatening a vital ingredient of America's self-image. MORE

Jul. 19, 2012

Experts suggest some fairly inexpensive home modifications that can help pet owners save money, keep animals healthy and make the house smell and look clean. MORE

Jun. 21, 2012

Matthew Batt, whose memoir Sugarhouse recounts his experiences buying and renovating a reputed former crack house in Salt Lake City, describes the pleasures and anxieties of fixing up a home. MORE

Jun. 21, 2012

Many homeowners are skipping architects and using a spate of computer software programs to plan the design work on renovations themselves, finding it a convenient--although risky--way to save money and bring their own design visions into their home. MORE

Jun. 10, 2012

Neighborhood Joint column on Nuthouse Hardware, family-owned hardware store in Kips Bay area of Manhattan that is open 24/7. MORE

May. 31, 2012

Revamping an old wooden deck can be pricey, but there are ways to hedge; low-cost flooring, furniture and plants can make it an inviting space once more. MORE

May. 10, 2012

Market Ready Q&A column offers homeowners advice on how to present the possibilities for renovating an old, awkward kitchen to potential buyers. MORE

Apr. 26, 2012

Roofing experts offers tips on the best ways to inspect and repair rain gutters in order to protect the home from water damage. MORE

Feb. 2, 2012

Home improvement specialists offer suggestions for the must-have power tools that will inspire homeowners to embark on more ambitious projects and repairs. MORE

Feb. 2, 2012

Homeowner Adam Bryant describes how the purchase of a cordless electric screwdriver and drill helped improve his handyman skills. MORE

Feb. 2, 2012

Recommendations for extra hardware supplies to keep on hand to cover the basic needs of most homes noted. MORE

Jan. 19, 2012

Jan. 15, 2012

Vanilla Ice, whose Ice Ice Baby was a 1990 monster hit, has a show on the DIY Network about home remodeling called The Vanilla Ice Project. MORE

Jan. 5, 2012

Author Greg Donaldson describes how he, lacking any ability to build, repair, program or maintain his home in East Hampton, NY, became entirely reliant on several local plumbers, carpenters and electricians. MORE

Dec. 29, 2011

Description of several easy home repairs that will fix squeaky or wobbly doors, floors and furniture; recommended tools for the jobs noted. MORE

Dec. 1, 2011

Suggestions for quick and cost-effective ways to update the front door of the home to impress holiday party guests; tips on buying and installing door hardware, paint and lights noted. MORE

Nov. 9, 2011

Ron Lieber Your Money column offers list of estimated expenses for major household appliances and services that people should consider when saving to buy their first home. MORE

Nov. 6, 2011

Buyers in New York City real estate market are more selective than ever, causing brokers to recommend the outlay of a quality renovation before putting an apartment on the market; renovations representing a range of complexities and costs described. MORE

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